The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and a group of other industry associations from different sectors have called for electricity market reforms in 2016 through ambitious proposals.
According to EWEA, the group is challenging policymakers to adopt a flexible and dynamic energy system, making the best use of innovative and distributed supply and demand options.
Signatories include renewables industry (wind and solar), the Smart Energy Demand Coalition (SEDC), the European paper and pulp association (CEPI), the EU storage association (EASE), engine manufacturers (EUGINE), gas industry (Gas Naturally) and standardization experts.
“Europe must rewrite the rules governing electricity markets so they fit the reality of how power is generated, managed and consumed in today’s energy system,” says Giles Dickson, CEO of the EWEA. “Supply is getting more flexible and variable. Storage solutions are developing. And there’s growing scope and interest in making demand more flexible.
“The energy system is now more complex to plan, control and balance. It needs enhanced flexibility, which requires significant changes in the relevant legislation. The Commission has a golden opportunity with the market design proposals they’ll issue at the end of the year. They must seize it,” Dickson adds.
“A multitude of innovative flexibility solutions are available today to form the backbone of a resilient and sustainable energy system for Europe,” comments Frauke Thies, executive director of the SEDC. “The opening of the energy markets for the different solutions and actors, not only on the supply- but also on the demand-side, will be a key success factor for the commission’s upcoming market design package.”
According to the release, the group of associations call for three specific reforms:
- Providing adequate price signals and further integration of short-markets across borders;
- Ensuring a balanced approach to system adequacy that fully takes into account the contribution from the different energy sources; and
- Implementing a level playing field for all flexibility providers to foster the pan-European trading of electricity and grid support services.
